Page 43 of Your Pucking Mom

I nodded, not sure where she was going with this.

“I think I’ll have to come with you and check out this Captain Cutie for myself.”

I nudged her in the arm, and she burst out into laughter, clutching her stomach.

“You’re an asshole.”

“And you love me,” she said, wrapping me up in a hug.

“Absolutely.” It hit me then—I might not have had my mother’s affection, but with Emma in my corner, I’d never lack love and support. “You’re my rock, always there to offer insight and encouragement when I need it most.”

Too much of my life had been spent deferring to others’ opinions and desires. It was time to start trusting my instincts, even if it meant disappointing my mother. I was an adult and perfectly capable of making my own decisions. It was about time I acted like it.

Shifting slightly, I met Emma’s gaze with newfound determination. “I need to prioritize myself more,” I stated. Speaking the words aloud was a pledge to myself and to Emma. I was ready to take control of my life and put my needs first.

* * *

Emma looked utterly ridiculous with “Best Auntie Ever” sewn into the front of the jersey and Austin’s number 23 on the back with HART above it.

“You look absurd.” I grabbed the two beers and hot dogs we’d ordered and walked down to our section. Austin said we could sit in the family suite, but I decided with Emma here, it’d be more fun to hang out closer to the ice.

“I can’t wait to see Captain Cutie,” she chirped, plopping into her seat and taking a swig of her beer.

“Stop it,” I teased, grinning. “You’re going to embarrass Austin. You look like you’re cheering on a toddler at a dance competition.”

Emma broke out into a hearty laugh, and I smiled, turning my head to watch the ice as they announced the players entering for warm-up.

“Shit. There are so many of them.” She stood, looking around as if she was trying to find someone.

“Found him,” she exclaimed, and I groaned, shoving my hot dog into my mouth. “Is that how you sucked his cock?”

“Emma!” My eyes went wide, and I pulled her down into her seat while covering her mouth with my hand. She merely shrugged, feigning innocence. We settled back into our seats, and I spotted him among the players. I couldn’t help but stare at every inch of his body. I watched him, thick with the pads from his uniform, glide around the ice. My eyes soaked in every detail until they reached his face.

Then our eyes met, and everything else faded away. He paused, his gaze fixed on me. Damn, he looked incredible, every inch thick, rigid, and athletic. He was so tall he towered over the other players.

“Damn,” Emma murmured, gripping my shoulder. “That’s intense.”

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. It felt like we were the only two people in the arena, lost in each others’ gazes. I drank him in, savoring this moment, knowing it was the closest I’d ever be able to get to him again.

Why was I so attracted to him? Why him?

“There’s Austy,” Emma’s shout made me snap out of it, and we waved enthusiastically in his direction.

“I’m so proud of him,” I said, but my eyes went back to number forty with the C on the front of his jersey.

He had skated off to the side, talking to another player, but I allowed myself to stare a bit longer, and his gaze turned back to mine. Letting the mask slip ever so slightly, I gave him a small smile.

He returned it, even lifting his hand in a wave. Then he was snapped out of his trance when his friend skated over and started talking to him.

I shook my head and focused my attention on the other side of the ice where Austin was, but just as I was about to take another sip of my drink, Emma elbowed me.

“Ow.”

“I saw that.”

I shot my head over to her. “Saw what?”

“I was sitting here while you were eye-fucking the captain.”

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